Air New Zealand tells teens to sleep at the airport

Three teenagers have been left disillusioned after being stranded inside Auckland International Airport with no help from Air New Zealand.

Evie Newman, 17, Megan Allsebrook, 17 and Lauren Allesbrook, 14 were all booked on an Air NZ flight from Auckland to New Plymouth when it was cancelled on Wednesday night, Stuff reports.

The girls were booked onto another Air NZ flight the next day, but had nowhere to go in the interim.

They told Stuff when they asked Air NZ staff what to do, they were told to find another part of the airport to sleep in.

"They said they couldn't get us anything because we weren't on an international flight and they said they only look after under 12s," Ms Newman said.

"We said where are we supposed to go? And they told us to go sleep at the international airport. They just told us 'go somewhere upstairs, it'll be warmer, just find somewhere up there to sleep'."

The girls tried to find accommodation, but their ages meant no hotels in the area would take them on as a booking. Eventually they were able to find a place to stay on Airbnb after the hosts took pity on them.

Air NZ told Stuff in an emailed statement the conditions of buying a ticket on the flight mean they did not have to help the girls.

"Our conditions of carriage make it clear that in weather disruptions there is no obligation to provide accommodation," the statement read.

"This is indeed why we offer travel insurance as part of every online fare purchase and strongly encourage that this option is selected."